[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 212 (Tuesday, December 15, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7486-S7488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                         Save Our Seas 2.0 Act

  Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam President, I want to talk today with my 
colleagues Senator Menendez and Senator Whitehouse on a really 
important piece of legislation that is heading to the President's desk, 
and this is Save Our Seas 2.0.
  It is the follow-on to the Save Our Seas Act that we passed in the 
Congress last Congress, and that was an important one mostly about 
ocean cleanup, but we thought we could do more. We thought, working 
with different groups--so many groups--and the executive branch, the 
Trump administration, that we could do a lot more. So we got to work.
  I want to thank my colleagues on the floor today--Senator Whitehouse 
of Rhode Island and Senator Menendez of New Jersey--for their work, 
their leadership, their cooperation.
  Senator Whitehouse in particular I really want to single out as 
probably the Member of the U.S. Senate who is focused on our oceans. He 
and I started collaborating on these issues about 6 years ago, right 
after I first came to the U.S. Senate, and I have learned a lot from 
Senator Whitehouse on these issues.
  We have kind of been an odd couple. We don't always agree on 
everything politically, but on these issues and a lot of other issues 
we not only agree but our teams work together, we work together, and, 
importantly, we are getting a lot--a lot--done.
  There have been a lot of folks who have really helped us in this 
regard and, again, in a bipartisan way. This bill is an important bill. 
This bill had three committees of the U.S. Senate and eight committees 
in the House.
  So Members--whether it was Chairman Barrasso and Ranking Member 
Carper of the EPW Committee, as I mentioned; on Foreign Relations, 
Chairman Risch; and, of course, Senator Menendez as the ranking member 
on the Commerce Committee; Chairman Wicker and Ranking Member Cantwell; 
on the House side, I just got off the phone with the dean of the House, 
Congressman   Don Young, a great, great Congressman; Representative 
Bonamici. She also has been a great advocate.
  We all were aware of the challenge. This is a huge challenge: ocean 
debris, plastics. It is a gigantic challenge for my State.
  Now, I brag about Alaska a lot. Here is a little bit more bragging: 
We have more coastline than the rest of the country combined, in terms 
of their coastline. So we see the garbage. We see the trash. We see it, 
unfortunately, washing up on the shores of Alaska, and that impacts 
negatively not just the environment but the economy, our fishing 
industry, our fishing communities, our coastal communities.
  You may have heard about this World Economic Forum study that said if 
we don't do anything about the pollution challenge that relates to 
plastics, by 2050 there could be more weight in terms of plastics in 
the ocean than there are fish. Think about that. That is a challenge.
  So we got to work, and here is the thing that I think is so exciting: 
This is a solvable issue. Estimates are that up to 80 percent of all 
plastics in the ocean around the globe come from 10 rivers in Asia and 
Africa. So, of course, it has a huge international component to it.

[[Page S7487]]

  But I just want to thank both Senators Whitehouse and Menendez. I am 
going to turn the floor over to Senator Menendez to say a few words on 
this, particularly the international side, which is so important.
  I will talk a little bit more about what is in the legislation, but 
this is an example--and it happens a lot; we don't always read about 
it--of this body coming together on big issues and making a big impact.
  So Save Our Seas 2.0 is heading to the President's desk. I do want to 
compliment the President and his team. They had a lot to do with this. 
They have been very motivated on these issues as well.
  This is everybody coming together to address a problem that we know 
is a problem but that we can solve, and we are putting American 
leadership out front, which will be good for Alaska, good for Rhode 
Island, good for New Jersey, good for America, and good for the world.
  Senator Menendez.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, let me thank Senator Sullivan for his 
introduction of our efforts here today and to really commend him for 
working in such a bipartisan spirit to drive an important piece of 
legislation, to really address the future of future generations of 
Alaskans, of Rhode Islanders, and New Jerseyans--and Americans, as well 
as other people across the world.
  I agree with Senator Sullivan that Senator Whitehouse's name is 
synonymous with the oceans and his focus on this is singular and his 
perspective is of the utmost importance.
  I want to rise to join my colleagues from Alaska and Rhode Island to 
celebrate the enactment of Save Our Seas 2.0 and to thank our 
colleagues, both in the House and the Senate, for their votes in 
support of the most comprehensive piece of legislation to address the 
growing global environmental threat of plastic waste in our oceans. I 
want to thank Representatives Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon and   Don 
Young of Alaska for their commitment and leadership in shepherding the 
bill through the House.
  To my colleagues, Senator Sullivan and Senator Whitehouse, it has 
been a great pleasure working with you on these issues. The passion, 
the knowledge, the persistence you have brought to solving the problem 
of plastic waste in the world's oceans is incredible, and it was 
essential to our shared success.
  Plastic pollution in our oceans is truly a global problem that 
literally washes up on New Jersey shores, impacting businesses and 
communities across our State. This calamity is yet another reminder 
that Americans are directly impacted by the policies and practices of 
countries around the world. Plastic debris in our oceans does not 
respect international borders.
  The abundance of plastic waste in our ocean requires comprehensive 
action alongside the fight against climate change. Save Our Seas 2.0 
will bolster U.S. leadership and global engagement to combat plastic 
waste and marine debris, improve plastic waste management, and enhance 
marine debris response and innovation.
  As the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I 
take special pride in the international title of this bipartisan 
legislation, which formalizes U.S. foreign policy to address this 
issue, supports USAID's work to curb ocean plastic, and encourages the 
United States to explore the development of an international agreement 
to foster cooperation on addressing plastic waste globally. I think 
this legislation can be the catalyst for that.
  The Earth's oceans are a global resource that sustains life 
everywhere, whether it is your country, State, or district that has a 
coastline or is landlocked. Eighty percent of New Jerseyans live in a 
coastal area, and our economy is heavily dependent on these vibrant 
communities. Families who depend on our fishing, their real estate, 
hospitality, tourism, and outdoor recreation industries rely upon clean 
and safe oceans.
  These families know that beyond their daily livlihoods, plastic 
pollution also threatens human health on a global scale. Once in the 
environment, plastics accumulate in and contaminate both human and 
animal food chains leading to an array of health risks.
  Save Our Seas 2.0 calls on various agencies to research and assess 
the effects of microplastics and food supplies and sources of drinking 
water so that we can better understand the way plastic is dangerous to 
use.
  Even at a time--this is where I will close--when Washington seems 
more politically divided than ever before, SOS 2.0 represents a 
significant bipartisan environmental victory that I sincerely hope will 
serve as a stepping stone toward more progress to tackle this growing 
global problem.
  There is no single solution to the marine debris crisis. Ocean 
stewardship is critical to preventing the collapse of marine ecosystems 
that support global fisheries that feed billions of people around the 
world. Addressing plastic waste of the ocean supports economic growth 
and trade, public health, and safe recreation.
  I look forward to building upon the bipartisan support we have 
achieved with this bill and working with the next administration on 
ensuring the dutiful execution of the programs we established in SOS 
2.0 and securing appropriations in support of the bill's goals and 
objectives.
  Again, with my congratulations to my colleagues and my thanks for the 
work they have done together, I will yield the floor to our colleague 
from Rhode Island.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam President, today is a happy day for me to be 
joining my friends Senator Menendez and Senator Sullivan here on the 
Senate floor to celebrate the successful conclusion of a second chapter 
in a long effort to address the problem of ocean plastics pollution, 
which has been described so well by my friend Senator Sullivan.
  When we began, there was actually no program whatsoever on ocean 
plastics in the Senate. There had never been legislation in this area. 
With Senator Sullivan's support, we decided to see what the traffic 
would bear, see what the Senate and the House might tolerate in terms 
of legislating in a new area. For that, we undertook the Save Our Seas 
bill. And at the end of the day, after a certain amount of static, 
actually on both sides of the aisle, we were able to get Save Our Seas 
passed by unanimous consent. Every single Member of the Senate had to 
agree to it. To me, that was a really exciting test to the proposition 
that Senators actually care about this. One of my favorite moments in 
that whole episode was when a Senator, with whom I am often at war--
Senator Inhofe of landlocked Oklahoma--became an ally and a friend and 
a supporter of Save Our Seas, the original bill. And he did so because 
he had childhood experiences on the gulf coast with sea turtles that 
made him care about the plastic that was piling up in the oceans and 
strangling and drowning sea creatures.
  It has, this topic, a gift, I guess, for bringing people together. 
And based on that success and that unanimous consent--and it cleared 
the House the same way on what they call suspension over there--we 
undertook 2.0; 2.0 is going to be bigger, better than 1.0. And it sure 
is bigger, better. And the role of Senator Menendez in putting some 
real structure to the international component of this was essential.
  Senator Menendez is our ranking member on the Foreign Relations 
Committee. In that role, he was essential in seeing to it that this 
bill, with such a big Foreign Relations Committee footprint, cleared 
that committee with momentum and good to go.
  We are now in the happy position that 2.0 has passed as well. It 
creates a new marine debris foundation. It creates a genius prize for 
innovation in trying to get rid of or reinvent or reimagine our plastic 
disposal system. It creates new research to tackle this issue. It 
focuses more, as I said, directly on our international relations 
because so much of the marine plastic waste comes out of foreign shores 
and down foreign rivers. It also focuses on our domestic waste 
management program.
  This is a good step. I have heard people say that 2.0 is not enough. 
Darn right it is not enough, but this is how you build momentum. You 
prove that you can do something and that the Senate is willing to act 
on it. Then, you stand on that platform and you build a bigger, better 
bill, and you get

[[Page S7488]]

that passed. And now Senator Sullivan and I are already discussing what 
3.0 might look like.
  I am not in a position to speak for Senator Sullivan, but I am 
interested in looking under the hood of the recycling industry. When 
you put your plastic waste into a blue bin to go off and get recycled, 
how much of it actually does get recycled? How can we make sure that 
there is, in fact, a circle in which plastic gets manufactured, put 
into use, brought back out of the system, and not left in the ocean, 
not left as waste on our lands? How can you develop what is called the 
circular economy for plastic?
  Plastic is a weird thing. Nature hasn't seen plastic before. It 
doesn't biodegrade the way things that were made by the Lord 
biodegrade. Nothing eats it. If something does eat it, it just piles up 
in its body or goes through it neutrally. It provides no nutrition or 
value to anything. It is just this new thing out there. We need to 
figure out how to deal with it, and we need to get it the heck out of 
our oceans.
  More to come on this. But let me take this moment to thank Senator 
Menendez for his leadership, particularly, on the foreign side of this, 
and Senator Sullivan for his leadership and for being such a terrific 
ally in this cause.
  With that, I yield back.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska
  Mr. SULLIVAN. Let me wrap up here by mentioning that, as we already 
talked about, the Congressional Research Service has called this the 
most comprehensive ocean cleanup legislation ever to come out of the 
Congress. As Senator Whitehouse said, 6 years ago, we were starting at 
nothing. And then we got Save Our Seas 1.0, primarily about cleaning up 
our own coastlines.
  There are a lot of funny stories there, but we did have a really 
interesting--and I thought entertaining--signing ceremony at the White 
House with the President and Senator Whitehouse. The two hadn't met 
before. They got along really well, particularly talking about this 
issue. And it did motivate the Trump administration to start focusing 
more. You may have seen in the new NAFTA, the USMCA, the first trade 
agreement has a whole section on ocean cleanup and a whole section on 
fisheries and sustainable fisheries. This is a really important 
precedent for the U.S. government, regardless of party.
  As Senator Menendez mentioned, a lot of focus internationally. I want 
to thank him again, in terms of the Foreign Relations Committee. Our 
ability to help other countries--we are certainly not perfect, but the 
big challenge on a lot of the oceans, in terms of cleanup and what 
comes onto the shores of the United States, what comes onto the shores 
of Alaska in terms of plastics and pollution, comes from overseas. We 
need to help there. As Senator Whitehouse also mentioned, improving our 
domestic infrastructure to prevent marine debris--so we are setting our 
own example, not just helping other countries--and then enhancing our 
own domestic response.
  Senator Whitehouse mentioned this Marine Debris Foundation. This is a 
congressionally chartered private organization. There are not many in 
the country. This is a big deal. Thank the Red Cross. Thank the 
American Legion. These are congressionally chartered organizations that 
will give this effort public-private partnership energy to address the 
problem. That is exactly what we are focused on here, and that is why 
we thought it was so important to have a Marine Debris Foundation as an 
enduring element of the U.S. leadership that is now exemplified by Save 
our Seas 2.0.
  I will mention one final thing. You know, one of the things that I 
thought was very important--we are going to keep this together--is we 
worked hard not to single out one industry or one area: Hey, you are 
not doing a good job; you need to get your act together. What we said 
when we put this bill together is we are going to bring in all the 
stakeholders--Democrats, Republicans, the executive branch, Federal 
agencies, industry, key environmental groups, ocean conservancy, World 
Wildlife Foundation--and get everybody together--the Alliance to End 
Plastic Waste, which is an initiative in the private sector, and say: 
What can we do together to solve this problem? That is what we did. All 
the stakeholders came together. Everybody worked closely together, good 
ideas, pulling on the same oar. And that is how we got this done.
  You know, one of our finest Senators, Lamar Alexander, gave his 
farewell speech just last week, and he talked about this idea of a 
split screen in the Senate. Yes, there is contention. Yes, there are 
battles. The media loves to play those up. But there is also another 
element about what we do here where there is strong bipartisan support 
on really big issues: the CARES Act, the NDAA, the Great American 
Outdoors Act--probably the biggest conservation bill in 50 years--21st 
Century Cures; these are all things that we are getting done here that 
matter to the American people in a bipartisan way. You don't always 
read about them in the press, but they are still happening. And now we 
can add to that list the biggest ocean cleanup legislation in the 
history of the country going to the President's desk for signing here 
in the next couple of days. It is something our fellow Americans should 
know about. And as Senator Whitehouse said, we are going to build on 
that too.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam President, I should add a few other thank-yous 
because this, obviously, took a lot of effort to get through all these 
different committees in the Senate and the House and to get it passed 
on the Senate and House floor. I want to start on the House side, with 
the equivalent of the Whitehouse-Sullivan show is the Young-Bonamici 
show on the other side; Representative Bonamici and Representative 
Young, whom Senator Sullivan mentioned, were the key people working 
this issue.
  I want to thank my delegation,  Jim Langevin and   David Cicilline, 
because, during key points when it looked like things were jamming up 
over there, they jumped up with their leadership and with their 
colleagues to help move things along, and I believe Representative 
Young did as well.
  I want to thank the majority leader, Steny Hoyer, who at a really 
critical moment, when this could have gone one way or another, made 
sure it went the right way and got us teed up to get the thing done in 
the House and back here where we could move it in the Senate.
  In the Senate, I have spoken about Senator Menendez's critical role, 
but, of course, as chairman, Senator Risch also had to support and 
permit this to go forward. It had to clear Commerce, where Senator 
Wicker and Senator Cantwell were supportive and helped move this along. 
Senator Wicker, indeed, has been a member of our Oceans Caucus from an 
early stage and has been very helpful on oceans issues.
  Then on our--Senator Sullivan's and my--Environment and Public Works 
Committee, Chairman Barrasso and our ranking member, Senator Carper, 
were all very supportive.
  Things like this don't get done without a lot of people pulling 
together, and I just wanted to make sure that I thanked all of them as 
I close out here on this subject.
  So thank you.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa.